Nevermind

Age.

Why does an American Idol have to be under 25, anyway?

Glasses?

What is wrong with them? The Athletes and Movie Stars try to wear them to look smarter. Why is it on American Idol glasses are a fashion no-no? I think they are a fashion statement and the voters in Canada and wherever Jamai came from didn't seem to care if they didn't have a contact wearing, eye surgery getting Idol.

OK, I through venting ... and yes I do wear glasses, what's you point.

I agree. Other countries' age limitations, if they have them at all, aren't as stringent. Peter Evrard from Belgium was like 27, IIRC.

Actually. isn't he 29? Some of em even got kids n stuff, but no AI is all stuffy n shit with age restrictions. I think 16 is TOO young IMO.

Not only should the American Idol wear glasses, but should have noticeable psychological problems ala Kurt Cobain, because at least the idol would have a richer personality than a WWJD bracelet.

I'm with you Jer, 16 is too young. They should shift the range to 18-27. AI2's top 3 were all 24-25 which, talent aside, may be an indicator that a fair percentage of the viewers could more easily relate to idols with some life experience and who can translate that into their performances, that is when they're not smiling while their baby is being taken away. Some delusional teenage goat who has had nothing but a sheltered life isn't going to cut it.

I'm torn on the psychological problems. Anger from a bad childhood or other life events + a touch of depression can be fodder for some great songs and performances. But, I don't want a idol who, to paraphrase Shack, is so needy that it makes me feel like the TV is going to jump off the stand and cling to my leg. Cobain good. Scooter Girl bad.

Glasses rock. The cute guys should wear them more often. More leather jackets too. Just no meshwear...please God, no meshwear.

oh no - Scootergirl's psychological problems are too rich for my blood.

I think the age for American Idol should be older for a lot of reasons: 1. dealing with a teenagers parents, especially ones who think their warbler can sing like cherubs announcing the Second Coming. 2. Most teenagers can't sing. Albeit the few exceptions, in general, most teenagers aren't very good singers. 3. teenage identity crisis shouldn't be displayed in real-time, ala Ryan Starr. It's an unjustice to the kid. 4.The American Idol should be able to sing, and whether or not the hopeful represents her mom and dad's "good values" on stage should be incidental, if it has any appropriate place in such a competition. Teenagers end up becoming this puppet, ala GoatGirl.

And thus, keeping out the teenagers also helps to keep out the baby-eaters.

I agree. No teenagers. I don't even feel like I can make fun of them and last year I wouldn't even make fun of Carmen till she turned 18. It just feels wrong. I mean there is a reason why I don't watch American Juniors. I happen to have a 16 year old so to me that is still a child. I think 18 to 28 would be a much better age range for them to use. And everybody wear their glasses, yep.

All well and good, but when 19evil sees Hilary Duff, Stacie Orrico and a bunch of others make it big, all they see are exploitative $$$ signs.

And there is at least one 16 year old out there who can sing pretty well, at least in my opinion -- Joss Stone. Assuming 19evil has somewhat honest motives, maybe they are looking for someone that young with that level of talent. NOT!

But they don't want Joss Stone, mercenary13; can't you hear Simon saying, "This is not American Blues Idol"? They want a malleable little pop tart -- helloo, Kiiiira, and 13-SyllableGirl -- who'll sign the Draconian contract and let them release an album of pap with an airbrushed poster inside and make millions of evanescent dollars and move onto the next one. (Speaking of which, they don't want an Amy Lee, either. "This is not American Angst Idol." Asshats.) The show's age range would be proportionally higher if Fox/19/Clive Davis/the Simons/the Nigels cared about finding a brilliant singer for the ages. If I may, that might be one reason why Simon C. was so adamantly against Clay -- he looked like someone who could have a genuine career, and who wants that? No one expected the Spice Girls to be around after 1998, least of all the Nigels, the Simons etc.
The perfect American Idol is an oxymoron -- people who like great music will not, can not and are not supposed to be satisfied by the results of this show.
For me, fun of the show is watching dumb pop-tarts pitted against each other --it's American Gladiators with a backing track. It's not the producers' fault that the winners (and Clay!) have exceeded their sick ephemeral expectations. Maybe this year!
Oh, yeah: End rant.

miss tuliplee, there is a reason people think you are brilliant. I think you hit that right on the money. A nice disposable, naive star, use and lose. If you have someone with too much talent they may grow and learn on you and you will have to deal with them. I think they make way more from the show than they do from all the alum profits added up. You need to keep making stars, not have to invest effort in maintaining them.

Actually the show's age range is pretty spread out, at least judging from the commercials I've seen. Most thirteen year old girls aren't going to buy cars or wrinkle cream. I'll take a guess and say it actually slants older than most other reality shows.



You hit closer than you know. What did Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick do before American Idol? The non-American version of American Gladiators.

miss tuliplee, rock on.

Now that 19E owns the singing careers of a hundred or so young Americans, if there happens to be one who could have a long term career, i.e. Clay Aiken, and the Nigel/Simons/Scary British Dudes don't want to deal with him, selling his contract to the highest bidder could make them sit pretty.
Plus, they always have a hundred other people to commission at a moment's notice to do their bidding.

I think: what would I do if I was in their shoes, invited to Hollywood? excited and elated, and handed a contract that would allow me to go to Hollywood?

Then I think that maybe I would read the contract, because I've had to sign contracts, agreements, etc., before and understand the consequences of signing my name to something I didn't read or understand.

And that's why they won't deal with anyone older than 25. If you're the type of adult who will sign away on anything, you're probably bankrupt already - or owned by some other foreign entertainment company.

Yeah, when I went to an American Idol taping I remember being shocked at the age range of people absolutely psyched to see the show. There were seriously men in their forties getting angry at the possibility of everyone not getting in.

My ideal American Idol would be someone who knows a thing or two about musical performances, and pop songs in general. Someone who knows what came before them and who basically has a good sense of music history, or at least pop history.

Someone with brains, in other words.

Someone who knows the words to classics like 'Can't Hurry Love'. Egads.

Someone who doesn't use flimsy excuses, a la what'sherface, Miss "The lights are blinding my train of thought" or whatever.

Someone who knows something about music.

I'm not picky, am I?

I think the perfect American Idol should be somebody that Simon absolutely can't stand. After seeing the lackluster talent this year, William Hung is looking better and better. Hey, he's memorable.

It is absolutely hilarious looking back and reading this now knowing that Simon has publicly confessed to hating Taylor Hicks, Season 5 American Idol.